Silence. But barely. My eyes were on the children playing on the swings. Their laughter filled the air as they played beneath the moonlight. It was getting cold and windy. A clear sign that it would rain soon, but I didn't want to leave, not just yet. The wind grew stronger, and parents were already gathering their children. Suddenly, I shivered as I felt a drop of rain against my skin. I rolled my eyes. "Why now?" I muttered to myself. "Sleddin, let's go." I turned to see Jay walking toward me. His hands were buried in the pockets of his hoodie as he stared down at me with a cold look on his face. "It's about to rain," he said, pointing toward the sky. "I'm taking you home." "Can we wait, please?" I pleaded, already knowing he wouldn't agree. Jay shook his head and glanced at his watch. "It's late, Sleddin." He stretched out his hand. "Let's go." I stared at it for a moment, hesitating. Jay groaned and rolled his eyes. I finally took his hand, and he pulled me to my feet before walking towards the car. I followed him but stopped, glancing back at the swing, which was now empty. Jay opened the car door. "Ladies first," he said with a bright smile. I shook my head. "I don't like it when you do that." Jay chuckled. He walked around to the other side and opened his own door. I sighed and was about to get in when I felt it. My eyes widened as fear gripped me. I looked back, the hair on my skin standing on end as my eyes darted around the park. Then, I saw him. Under the bright moonlight, a figure stood still, wearing a hoodie and a mask, staring directly at me. I stared back, fear keeping me rooted to the spot. Suddenly, I felt a strong grip around my wrist. I jumped and turned to Jay, who was looking at me with worried eyes. "You look like you've seen a ghost, Sleddin," he said in a worried tone. I didn't answer. I glanced back at where I'd seen the stranger. He was gone. Slowly, I bit my lower lip. Who is he? Jay shook my arm, pulling me out of my thoughts. "Sleddin?!" "Huh?" "What are you staring at?" he snapped, following my gaze. I quickly shook my head. "It's... nothing," I lied. Jay turned his gaze back to me. "Is it that stalker?" He asked "Shouldn't we call the-" "No," I cut him off, pulling my wrist from his grasp. "Let's just go," I added as I got into the car. Jay said nothing. He walked around to the driver's seat and sighed. Before starting the engine, he glanced at me one more time. Then he drove into the streets, the car picking up speed as the rain started to fall. → The Next Morning, I entered the office and dropped my bag on the floor. I collapsed into my chair, running my fingers through my hair. Another day, another day of work, and I was already exhausted. I barely slept last night. That figure kept flashing through my mind, turning into nightmares that made sleep nearly impossible. The door opened, and a chubby woman with ginger-red hair walked in. She was dressed in a long gown and carried two mugs in her hands. "Good morning, Sleddin," Rosetta said with a bright smile. I only nodded, returning her smile as I pointed toward the table. Rosetta's smile grew wider as she walked over and placed the mugs on the table. Then she turned to me. "So, how is he?" she asked with a smirk. I raised an eyebrow. "Who?" My eyes widened the moment I realized what she meant. "Jay is my best friend, Rosetta," I snapped. Rosetta's smirk grew even wider. "Just a friend, huh?" I sighed and ignored her, turning my attention to the files scattered across the table. "You're twenty-five, Sleddin," Rosetta said. "You need to let go of your past and move on." I let out a small giggle. Past? Rosetta didn't know what was really going on. She thought Damien's death had left a wound in my heart that I couldn't heal from. She didn't know. She didn't know I was the one who killed him. And now, I was being followed by a stranger who knew exactly what I'd done. Fear, anger, and guilt tightened inside me as I stared down at the files. Rosetta noticed. "Sleddin?" I looked up. She leaned closer, studying my face. "Are you okay?" I immediately forced a bright smile. "Yeah. I'm fine," I lied. Rosetta breathed out a sigh of relief. "Ahh, for a moment, I thought-" The door opened, grabbing our attention. Our boss, Gareth, stood by the doorpost, leaning in. "Sleddin?" He called. "Sir?" "I was heading out. Do you need anything?" He asked, hope written all over his face. I shook my head. "No," I replied, returning my gaze to the files. "Thanks, sir," I added, trying not to sound rude. Gareth said nothing. He simply nodded, waving at Rosetta before closing the door. Soon, I felt eyes on me. I looked up, seeing Rosetta glaring daggers at me. "What?!" I snap. "That was rude!" Rosetta snapped back. I shook my head. "I just rejected his offer." "He clearly likes you." "And I don't," I breathed out, frustrated. I sighed loudly, rolling my eyes. "Look, Rosetta," I said. "I need to focus." Rosetta looked at me for half a minute. "Okay, then," she said, pulling away. She walked towards the door, sliding it shut. I glanced at the door for a minute before returning my focus to the files. ~~~ At noon, I headed to the supermarket to get groceries. After spending hours there, I headed home. My house was just a few blocks away, so I didn't take a taxi. Arriving at my doorstep, I dropped the groceries on the porch, searching my bag for the keys. I frowned, wondering where I had kept them, until, eventually, I found them. After five minutes, I let out a loud sigh. I put the key in the lock; suddenly, my entire body froze. The wind blew, sending a cold shiver down my spine. That feeling... something wasn't right. "You can't get in?" A voice spoke. I jumped in fear, causing the keys to fall to the ground. I heard a chuckle. "Who... are... you?" I asked, my voice trembling in fear. "You dropped your keys," he responded, bending down to pick them up. His body brushed against my back, and I held my breath. He held my hand, opened my palm and placed the keys there. I shivered from their coldness. I didn't realize how cold it was until now. "Now then," he said again. "Don't you want to open it?" My fingers shook. I wanted to turn to see who the stranger was, but my body didn't move an inch. I put the key into the lock and turned it. "That's good, Sleddin." Hearing him say my name filled me with even more fear. Who is this person? How does he know my name? "Go in. I won't hurt you for now," he replied darkly before pulling away. A minute later, I didn't feel him behind me anymore. My body recovered, and I quickly grabbed my groceries, barging through the door and closing it behind me. I locked it and leaned my back against the door, breathing heavily. My mind instantly went to one person.

"What do you mean by he was here?! " Jay yelled at the top of his voice. "Calm down," I pleaded, begging him to lower his voice, but Jay wasn't having it. He stormed back and forth across the room, running his fingers through his hair. I had dialled his number and had told him. Immediately, he came. "You're not fine, Sleddin". He finally stopped, now standing in front of me. "You've been moving from city to city for three good years because of this same stranger stalking you every single day" I shook my head. "I'm okay-" "Are you!?" His voice thundered. He turned to the scattered letters and pictures on the couch. "Does this mean you're okay?!"He yelled again, scattering them in my face. I looked at them on the floor. " Jay-" "We're calling the police." He cuts me off again, pulling out his phone. "No!" I snap, snatching it from his grip. "Last time we did that, they thought we were playing tricks on them" Jay looked at me and folded his arms. "What should we do then?" He asked. I bit my lips. "I... don't... know..." I replied. Tears formed in my eyes. Jay noticed and groaned, pulling me into a hug. "I'm sorry I wasn't with you earlier," He apologized. I said nothing. My mind was occupied with thoughts. That stranger, who is he? "He didn't hurt you, right?" Jay asked again, snapping back to reality. "Or threatened you to keep quiet" I shook my head "He did not," I replied. "Are you hungry?" I changed the topic, pulling away from him. Jay scratched the back of his head " Yeah, sure", he replied. "How about your sister? Is she okay?" I asked, heading towards the kitchen. Jay didn't reply. I stopped in my tracks and turned to see him staring at his phone screen. "Jay?" I called out. "Hmm? Yeah, she is," He replied, putting his phone back into his pocket. " She's safe at the orphanage, thank you" I smiled in return before turning towards the kitchen. ~~ The next morning, at work, Rosetta couldn't stop babbling. She kept ranting about her date with her husband last night and how the kids managed to find them and disrupt their date. I sighed, lost in thought. If only she knew what happened to me last night. "Are you listening to me?" Rosetta asked. Shaking me roughly. "Yesss", I drawled, rolling my eyes at her. Rosetta stared down at me. "You need to let loose" "How?" I asked, taking a sip of my coffee. "We're going clubbing, Sleddin," Rosetta announced excitedly. I choked on my drink. "Wha...what?!" I yelled. A club was the last place I wanted to be for now. "I'm not interested", I said, turning my face away from her. Rosetta pouted, "I'm inviting your boyfriend, Jay, too" "Jay is my best friend, not my boyfriend." I corrected her. " He just has this protective, brotherly love that I really appreciate from him" Rosetta heaved a smirk "After work, we're heading straight there" "Aren't we dressing up for it?" I asked, not realizing I was agreeing with her. Rosetta clapped her hands excitedly. "No need to," She replies. "We're just going after work", she adds I sighed, not bothering to say more. TL CLUB UNIT, 10pm. I sat on the cushion watching as people danced, jamming their bodies against each other, the music buzzing loudly. "Want another fill?" I turned to Rosetta, who smiled drunkenly at me. "Five minutes here and you're already drunk," I said with a giggle, rolling my eyes at her. Rosetta laughed loudly, sinking against the cushion. "I did say let loose," She said. I only nodded at her before returning my gaze. I turned to the DJ, then to the strippers performing at the high table. Jay leaned close to me. "Why did you agree to this?" He whispered in my ear. "Rosetta said she invited you", I replied, turning to Rosetta, who was taking another shot. Jay shook his head. "I came because she told me you were coming," He said, shaking his head. "Do you want a drink?" He asked me, taking a bottle. I smiled at him, allowing him to pour the drink into my cup. "Thanks" Jay nodded in response. I took a huge sip and struggled to swallow it. I hissed, feeling a sharp pain in my head, and frowned. "This is strong," I said, handing Jay my cup. He laughed, pouring another drink into it. I took it all. Then another, and another. At the fifth round, Jay paused and stared at me. "Sleddin?" He frowned. "Yeah?" I replied. "Don't you think it's enough?" He asked me. I shook my head, blinking at him "I'm fine", I replied. I wasn't. I was completely drunk. Rosetta stood up from her seat and walked towards me. "You're happy," she said, stretching out her hand. I laughed as I took it, standing on my feet. I stumbled, nearly crashing to a table, but Jay caught me. "Sleddin?" He called my name in a worried tone. "Jay, I'm fine", I laughed, Rosetta, already pulling me towards the middle. "Bye", I waved at him, following her. The fun was wild. Bodies moving together, music blasting through the speakers, the smell of alcohol and sweat filling the air. Rosetta held my waist while I wrapped my hands around her neck. "Enjoying this?!" She asked excitedly. I nodded my head, swinging my long black hair side to side. We kept dancing until a tall man walked between us, blocking me. With excitement, Rosetta followed him to who knows where, leaving me in the crowd. I didn't care; I just wanted to have fun. For the past years, I never felt anything close to this. I let myself loose, swinging my hands in the air. A man noticed me, and a smirk grew on his face. "Hey, pretty" I smiled at him, giving him a wink. He pulled me to him by the waist. Our bodies jammed against each other, moving and following the rhythm of the music. He smacked my butt hard, and I laughed harder, throwing my head back. That was all I could remember until a hand gripped my wrist, pulling me away from him. I stumbled, hitting my face on a hard chest. I groaned. "That'll be enough!" A male voice yelled. "Jay, let me be!!" I cried out, already losing it. Next thing I knew, I was swept off my feet, dangling on his shoulder. I tried to struggle, but the alcohol had taken over. I let out a weak cry before blacking out.

"Please... stop!" I pleaded, struggling to push him away. He had me trapped under him. My clothes were torn to shreds, blood everywhere. "Let me go, Damien!" I struggled but to no avail. "Shut the fuck up and stay still!" He yelled, slapping me hard across the cheek. I coughed out blood, struggling to breathe. "Please, stop!" I pleaded, but it only fell on deaf ears. I tried to push him away, but my body was already growing weak. I was slowly losing consciousness. "Stay still, brat!" Damien cursed at me. My eyes widened seeing what he held in his right hand. A knife. "Damien!" He launched it at me, but at the last moment, I pushed him away using the last of my strength. My eyes fell to the floor, and I reached for something. A broken glass. Before I could regain myself, something hard hit me on the head. My head spun. I collapsed on the ground, gasping for breath. "You bastard," Damien dashed towards me. In a flash, I held the glass tight and drove it into his neck. I drew it out again, stabbing that area continuously. His body went limp. "Get away?!" I screamed out, pushing the body away from me. I knelt in front of it. Tears rolled down my face. "What have I done?" I whisper. My eyes fell on my bloodstained hands, and I screamed out in terror. "No!" My eyes flashed open as I sat up. I looked around, finding myself in a room, on a bed and worse, my clothes had been changed. I gasped. "Where am I?" "You're at my house, Sleddin," A male voice answered. I turned sharply to see a man sitting on an iron chair staring at me. His cold blue eyes sent shivers down my spine. "Who... are you?" I stammered. He let out a chuckle. You don't know?" My mind instantly went to the letters, the pictures, the stranger at the park and at my porch. Tears trailed down from my eyes " What do you want from me?!" I cried out. He laughed out loud, completely unfazed. "Funny how you're acting innocent, my dear", he replied, slowly standing up to his feet. I tried to move, but immediately, I realized I was tied to the bed with chains. Hands and feet. I glared at him, " What do you want from me?!" He stopped in his tracks "Do you seriously want an introduction, Sleddin?" He turned to the knife in his hand. "Okay, then", he said. "Remember the man you killed?, I'm his brother" My eyes widened in recognition. "Zade Moretti?" More tears ran down my cheeks, uncontrollably. "He tried... to kill... me", I sobbed. My whole body was shaking terribly as memories crashed in. Zade moved closer, caging me on the bed. He lifted my chin using the flat surface of the knife. The cold steel pressed against my wet skin. My breath seized; I couldn't breathe. "You expect me to believe that?" He whispered, His voice low. His blue eyes were filled with rage. "That my own brother... tried to kill you?" I nodded immediately. Tears poured faster. "You have to," I cried ", Damien isn't-" "Isn't that?!" He roared, slamming his fist against the headboard beside my head. I screamed in fear. My tears rolled down his blade. "Tears?" Zade raised an eyebrow, his thumb wiping my cheek. "You amaze me more, Sleddin," he said. You killed my brother; now you're crying for him?" "Please..." I begged. I tried to reach him, but the chains made me remember I was still pinned to the bed. " Let me go" His hands instantly grabbed my hair. He yanked my head back, my neck fully exposed to him. His knife trailed down my throat. "You killed my brother, Sleddin", he snarled. "You don't get to leave, you don't get to cry, you belong to me now, Kitten. In this house, in this room, until I've tortured you enough." At that moment, I thought he would actually slice my throat. His eyes dropped to my wrist. Red, raw and bleeding. He stared at it for a minute, then let out a scoff. He reached into his pocket, brought out a silver key and unlocked the chains. CLICK. The cuffs fell open. Again, his hands grabbed my hair. "Escape, and I'll break you and feed your bones to dogs; I mean every word", he snarled. He pushed me hard against the bed so hard the chains clattered. Zade stood up on his feet. I gasped for air, coughing hard. I placed my hands on my neck where his knife had been. My hair was messy, my face was wet, my wrist was red and raw from the cuffs. I watched Zade walk across the room slowly, his hands behind his back. He looked like a predator waiting to devour his prey. I watched him. My chest rose and fell. How did he find me? I had seen Zade before. Quiet, distant and cold. We met when Damien first introduced me to him at a rooftop dinner. Damien had his arms around me, laughing out loud. "This is my little brother, Zade. He's the boring one" Zade had just looked at me. One glance, then he left. Now, I'm seeing him. Cold, cruel, ruthless and a total bastard. Just like his older brother. I gritted my teeth in anger. Suddenly, my mind shifted to Rosetta and Jay. "Where are my friends?" I blurted out. "What did you do to them? Where are they?" Zade stopped walking. "I have no business with them, Sleddin," He replied coldly. "And what exactly are you going to do to me?!" I yelled. My fear turned into anger. Zade smiled, dangerous and slow. "I told you, kitten, I'll torture you" He whispered " Death is too easy these days" He walked towards the door. "Get some rest first, Kitten" he said " Tomorrow won't be pleasing" He slammed the door hard, causing me to jump in fear. The door clicked, and I glared at it. Pure hate grew inside me. "I hate him," I cursed under my breath. I paused immediately, realizing it. Did he just call me... kitten?